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Japanese Philanthropist Meets Myanmar’s Junta Leader Amid Renewed Diplomatic Outreach
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Meeting in Naypyitaw
On Oct 20, Myanmar’s junta chief-turned-president Min Aung Hlaing met with Japanese philanthropist Yohei Sasakawa in the capital Naypyitaw, state media reported. The two discussed plans for Sasakawa to provide assistance to “Myanmar’s internal peace process” and to support the development of the country’s human resources.
Background of the Conflict and Prior Mediation
The 2021 military coup led by Min Aung Hlaing deposed an elected civilian government, triggering a nationwide civil war that state media says has killed more than 100,000 people and displaced over 3.5 million. Sasakawa, honorary chair of the Nippon Foundation and Japan’s special envoy for national reconciliation in Myanmar, helped broker a truce in 2022 between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army rebel group in Rakhine State; the ceasefire later collapsed, leading to renewed fighting.
International Context
State media described the meeting as part of a broader trend of international re-engagement with Myanmar after years of diplomatic isolation. The United States has already begun re-engaging, holding talks in Tokyo earlier this month, according to the same reports. Japan’s acting envoy to Myanmar also met the Myanmar foreign minister in October, marking the first known public engagement, following a September visit by Japanese ruling-party lawmaker Hiromichi Watanabe. Japan’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sasakawa’s visit.
Planned Assistance
Sasakawa indicated that the Nippon Foundation intends to support Myanmar’s internal peace process and to develop the nation’s human resources, though specific programs were not detailed in the state-media account.